REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Prasant Chhotu is an aerospace engineer working at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center's Aviation Engineering Directorate's Maintenance Engineering Division located in Corpus Christi, Tex.

Chhotu's duties and responsibilities include supporting the Critical Safety Item program and working on maintenance engineering projects. These projects vary from integrating new technologies for aircraft repair development to supporting process changes for Aircraft Manufacturing and Overhaul. Chhotu also serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative for the division's Aviation and Missile Command's Express Engineering Service contract.

"What I most like about the job is working with other engineers within AMRDEC and listening to their stories and experiences obtained over the years," said Chhout. "There is a lot to learn from the experience of others. We work in an industry where we can gain more knowledge by communicating and working hands-on with people than by just reading a book, project folder or manual."

Chhotu explained that being co-located next to the Corpus Christi Army Depot has enabled him to provide direct airworthiness engineering support to ensure U.S. Army aircraft components are repaired properly.

"My peers and managers within the Maintenance Engineering Division are the best group of folks. They always put the mission and Soldier first and I am truly honored to work beside them."

Chhotu has earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He received a Superior Civilian Service Award for serving as Deputy G-1 for U.S. Army Materiel Command, Logistics Support Element-Southwest Asia from October 2004 to January 2005. While working for AMRDEC, Chhotu has also received the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, for exceptional performance and dedication service provided to CCAD from July 2012 to May 2016.

Outside of work, Chhotu says he coordinates chauffeur services with his wife to take their two children to various after-school activities. "I am actively involved with my children's school and served as the chair of the facilities committee. The committee's primary function is to help identify the facilities needs for the school district and present the findings to the school board."

---

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to provide innovative research, development and engineering to produce capabilities for decisive overmatch to the Army against the complexities of the current and future operating environments in support of the Joint Warfighter and the Nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.